The Technical Standards and Safety Authority’s (TSSA’s) Heating Contractor Audit Program ensures that contractors understand and comply with safety obligations under:
Ontario Regulation 210/01: Oil and Gas Pipeline Systems (Ontario.ca)
Ontario Regulation 211/01: Propane Storage and Handling Systems (Ontario.ca)
Ontario Regulation 215/01: Fuel Industry Certificates (Ontario.ca)
CSA B139: Series 19 (Fuel Burning Equipment, CSAGroup.org) and the associated Fuel Oil B139: Series 19 CAD amendment (pdf), and CSA B149.1:20 (Natural Gas and Propane Installation Code, CSAGroup.org) and the Gaseous Fuels CAD amendment (2021, pdf).
Any other applicable codes and procedures in the province of Ontario.
The Heating Contractor Audit Program has undergone revisions since March 2020. Under the revised Heating Contractor Audit Program, Technical Standards and Safety Authority (TSSA) inspectors now focus on the contractor’s business operation as it pertains to the regulation(s) instead of conducting field inspections for code compliance. This allows the contractor to be responsible for regulatory compliance, including checking their fuel technicians’ work in the field.
The program will continue with enhanced processes incorporating learnings since it was first launched a few years ago.
The Propane, Gaseous and Fuel Oil Regulations have seven primary requirements that are a contractor’s responsibilities. They are as follows:
Only install approved equipment
Technicians shall be certified for the work
Call for initial inspection by the distributor where fuel is being used for the first time
Ensure employees comply with the regulation(s) by verifying employees’ work in the field
Incident Reporting
Identification, action as required and reporting of non-compliances (unacceptable conditions)
Requirement to tag (pressure test tag/installation tag) equipment upon installation completion
TSSA’s audit will require the contractor to demonstrate compliance with these requirements through the contractor’s processes, procedures and records.
Regarding item 4 listed above “Ensure employees comply with the regulation(s) by verifying employees’ work in the field”, TSSA expects contractors to check their employees’ (technicians’) fuels work. The Safety Dispatch newsletter issued on August 15, 2023 indicated contractors must have a Quality Assurance Program. While this is not a requirement, it is one method to achieve compliance and is a best practice in the heating contractor industry. If there is no process to verify technicians’ work, TSSA will perform field verifications. In the event that non-compliances are found during TSSA’s verification, orders will be issued to address the non-compliances, including a directive for the contractor to develop a program to demonstrate that every reasonable precaution has been taken to ensure employees comply with O. Reg. 211/01 (Propane Storage and Handling) s. 5 or O. Reg. 212/01 (Gaseous Fuels) s. 11 or O. Reg. 213/01 (Fuel Oil) s. 5. as applicable.
Please review these documents for further details on the Heating Contractor Audit Program: